Memphis, Tennessee is so much more than just the home of blues music and barbecue. This vibrant city on the banks of the Mississippi River also overflows with romantic possibilities for couples.
| Activity | Description |
|---|---|
| Carriage Ride Downtown | A romantic tour of Memphis’ historic sites and charming streets in a horse-drawn carriage. |
| River Views Over Dinner | Dining with panoramic views of the Mississippi River, especially during sunset. |
| Couples Cooking Class | Interactive cooking sessions for couples to create Southern dishes together. |
| Stroll Through Overton Park | Exploring over 340 acres of parkland, including trails and art galleries. |
| VIP Memphis Zoo Experience | Behind-the-scenes tours with close encounters with animals. |
| Concert at Levitt Shell | Enjoying free live music outdoors in a historic venue. |
| Couples Massage Class | Learning massage techniques together for relaxation and connection. |
| Adventure Games | Team-based challenges like escape rooms or mini-golf for fun and bonding. |
| Roadtrip on Great River Road | A scenic drive along the Mississippi River with stops at historical and cultural sites. |
| Movie Night at Orpheum | Watching classic films in a historic theatre with luxurious architecture. |
| Master Class at Distillery | Learning about and sampling spirits in a cocktail-making class. |
| Sun Studio Tour | Exploring the birthplace of rock-and-roll with a rich musical history. |
| Shelby Farms Park | Enjoying whimsical and romantic settings in a large urban park. |
From watching the sunset over the river to strolling hand-in-hand through idyllic parks to cozying up while enjoying Memphis’ famous music scene, Memphis has many options to help you have an unforgettable time with your special someone.
Have a Carriage Ride Through Downtown Memphis
Name and Location: Horse-drawn carriage rides through downtown Memphis depart from different locations along Beale Street.
History and Significance: Leisurely carriage rides allow a unique way for couples to enjoy downtown while learning history from knowledgeable drivers about iconic Memphis music landmarks en route like Beale Street, Handy Park and more.
What to Expect: Snuggle in an intimate carriage for one or private group while a docent driver navigates through downtown blocks pointing out vibrant nightlife scenes and the Mississippi riverfront. Seasonal tours available.
Visitor Information: Book ahead online or inquire nightly on Beale Street about pricing, routes and availability from independent carriage companies. Rides typically last 20-40 minutes.
Horse-drawn carriages may seem old-fashioned, but they remain one of the most romantic ways to see Memphis. As you cuddle up under a blanket in a beautiful carriage, you’ll get a unique perspective of downtown’s most charming areas. Take in historic Beale Street where blues legends like B.B. King got their start. Marvel at grand buildings like The Peabody Hotel, known for the daily march of its resident ducks. Let your driver recommend stops for photos in front of city landmarks. It’s a leisurely, intimate experience you’ll both treasure.
Enjoy Panoramic River Views Over Dinner
Name and Location: Elegant restaurants like The Majestic Grille at 145 S. Main Street or Itta Bena at 122 S. Main Street in downtown Memphis deliver panoramic waterfront views of the Mississippi River over elegant plates.
History and Significance: Located in the former Tennessee Trust Bank Building, The Majestic Grille has welcomed diners to its tall arched windows framing downtown since 1913 while Itta Bena boasts contemporary architecture and cuisine since 2018 on Beale Street’s South Main district near the river.
What to Expect: Upscale seasonal menus at white-linen tables lined with walls of glass revealing wide watery vistas of bridges criss-crossing the Mighty Mississippi’s bustling barges, islands and aqua sunsets.
Visitor Information: Both dinner venues open nightly with different schedule times. Reservations strongly recommended to guarantee window seating online or by phone.
There’s no better backdrop for a romantic dinner than the mighty Mississippi River. Watch the setting sun sparkle on the water as you dine with your darling overlooking the river. Popular options like the Riverfront Bar & Grill or local favorite Sunset Grill take advantage of those gorgeous views and offer outdoor patio seating from spring through fall. Take your time dining and drinking as you sit side-by-side watching evening fall and the lights come up on downtown Memphis across the river. It’s an idyllic date night setting to help you focus on each other.
Take a Couples Cooking Class Together
Name and Location: Hands-on couples cooking classes happen at various venues around Memphis including chef kitchens like Soul Fish Cafe on 862 S Cooper St.
History and Significance: Bond over preparing a specialty meal together guided by expert chefs ready to share pro techniques, recipes and kitchen harmony. Themed classes cover topics from classic Southern cooking to dessert creations.
What to Expect: Grab ingredients, tie on aprons and ignite sparks while learning new culinary skills as a team. Laugh, sip wine and unwind cooking simple recipes before sitting down together to enjoy the fresh regional dishes prepared together from scratch.
Visitor Information: Register for specific couples event dates online. Ticket prices vary by menu and location. Minimum ages may apply to hold knives and sample wines.
Cooking classes are an increasingly popular date idea for couples, and Memphis offers some tasty ways to get in the kitchen together. Flavors Cooking School even has a dedicated Couples Date Night class where you’ll work together to whip up some yummy Southern comfort food like fried green tomatoes or shrimp and grits. Or try a hands-on tamale-making class at Las Delicias taqueria, where you can bond into the wee hours rolling and stuffing masa together before enjoying your creations. Both are perfect date activities for foodie couples to experience a bit of local culture…and sample the results!
Stroll Through Iconic Overton Park
Name and Location: Overton Park spans more than 340 acres in Midtown Memphis, centered around the intersection of E. Parkway N. and N. Tucker at 2080 Poplar Ave.
History and Significance: Created in 1901, Overton Park provides a beautiful green public space containing the Memphis Zoo, an arboretum, outdoor theater and trails shaded beneath 200-year-old forest remnants treasured by locals as an urban escape oasis amid busy city thoroughfares.
What to Expect: Hand-in-hand strolls past rare old growth trees, meadows filled with wildflowers and public art. Key landmarks include architecturally significant concrete shells embedded in hillsides around the Levitt Shell amphitheater hosting free concerts under the stars.
Visitor Information: Overton Park remains openly accessible daily to pedestrians from sunrise to sunset. Several free public parking options and street parking available nearby.
With over 340 acres of natural beauty to explore, Overton Park provides a gorgeous and peaceful backdrop for romantic walks with your beloved. You’ll feel miles away from the bustle of the city as you meander along woodsy trails past historic markers and public artworks within the park. Visit the tranquil Memphis Brooks Museum of Art where you can continue hand-in-hand through galleries filled with impressive works from Monets to Picassos. Or bring a blanket and bottle of wine for an intimate picnic on the great lawn in the center of the park. Overton Park is an urban oasis made for couples looking for serene natural spots to connect.
Get VIP Treatment at the Memphis Zoo
Name and Location: The Memphis Zoo located within Overton Park at 2000 Premier Lane, Memphis, TN 38134.
History and Significance: Founded in 1901, the Memphis Zoo spans 70 lush acres as one of the oldest Zoos in the country providing sanctuary, education and conservation for endangered species populations showcased in naturalistic global exhibit zones.
What to Expect: Hand-feed giraffes from an elevated platform and marvel at the prowling big cat species while you stroll through exhibits like the African Veldt or Asia with a few tasty pit stops between romantic moments spent soaking up all the cuddly inhabitants like at the panda habitat.
Visitor Information: Open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. General admission or VIP packages available to access zookeeper talks, short private safaris and complimentary ride tickets. Tickets and options online.
Special behind-the-scenes zoo tours allow you and your sweetheart to spend quality time together while getting up close and personal with amazing animals from around the world. The Wild Encounter tours at the Memphis Zoo offer small groups access to exclusive animal areas for memorable encounters like feeding a giraffe or touching a shark. Splurge on the Zoo’s Ultimate Primate & Paddock Safari premium experience where you’ll take a romantic picnic lunch break amidst recreated African scenery in the giraffe barn loft before meeting endangered lemurs and monkeys. It’s a totally unique zoo date that animal lovers won’t soon forget!
Enjoy a Concert with Your Love at Levitt Shell
Name and Location: Levitt Shell is an open-air amphitheater located inside Overton Park at 1928 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104.
History and Significance: Originally built in 1936, the historic lightbulb-adorned bandshell hosted early performances by legends like Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and B.B. King and still spotlights free concerts today against a scenic backdrop.
What to Expect: Pack a romantic picnic dinner and cozy blanket to spread out on the expansive lawn for a diverse lineup of 50+ free family-friendly concerts underneath the stars almost every evening between April and October on this cherished Midtown stage.
Visitor Information: Free lawn seating available on a first come basis. Reservable tables or upgraded reserved seating in the hillside meadow also available certain show nights for an additional fee via the venue website.
When it comes to romantic date night music, Levitt Shell in Overton Park can’t be beat. The historic open-air amphitheater under the stars has showcased legends from Elvis to Johnny Cash since the 1930s. Today you can cuddle close on the lawn to enjoy amazing concerts for free from May through September. Pack a basket dinner, bring blankets to spread out on the grass, and sway together to jazz, country, funk and more by vibrant local musicians. Under the fairy lights strung above the shell, great free music makes for an easy evening under the stars that you both will always remember.
Relax at a Couples Massage Class
Name and Location: Intro hands-on couples massage workshops offered at various holistic centers around Memphis including sites like Hampton Flagg Wellness at 723 S Highland St.
History and Significance: Reconnect while picking up valuable skills to help soothe away daily stresses together under guidance of a professional massage therapist in an intimate class environment limited to only a few partner pairs at a time. Work out knots to improve relaxation in relationships through healing touch therapy.
What to Expect: Unwind side-by-side as you practice kneading techniques on each other’s shoulders, hands and feet with aromatherapy oils and unwinding background music before trading massages to level up at-home pampering skills.
Visitor Information: 1 to 1.5 hour Sunday afternoon slots available by appointment for couples 18+ years old interested in de-stressing through therapeutic bodywork tools.
A couples massage workshop is a wonderful way to take your physical intimacy to the next level in a relaxing setting. Classes offered by places like Ecstatic Bodywork provide guidance on massage techniques along with creating open communication between partners. As you take turns giving and receiving nurturing touch, tension melts away, oxytocin flows, and you’ll leave feeling more deeply connected to your loved one in both body and spirit. It’s a bonding opportunity that’s both rejuvenating and romantic all at once.
Play Together at Adventure Games
Name and Location: 60,000 sq ft family fun center Adventure Games is located at 6699 Winchester Rd, Memphis, TN 38115.
History and Significance: Purpose built for active indoor adventure recreation, this warehouse playground unleashes kids and adults alike across 3 stories of interconnected trampolines, rock climbing, ninja obstacles, laser tag, VR experiences, arcade games and more all under one roof.
What to Expect: Jump, climb, slip, compete and grow closer through laughter attempting challenge courses side-by-side or racing laser tag before refueling on flash-fired pizza together next door. Heart rates stay elevated as you stretch comfort zones.
Visitor Information: Open daily for walk-in admission purchases. Activity passes vary based on access levels to attractions with all-day unlimited options available. Socks required.
Adventure challenges you tackle as a team are fantastic relationship bonding experiences that create lasting memories. Memphis Escape offers highly immersive escape room puzzles for couples where communication and cooperation are key to unraveling mysteries before time runs out. Or get the adrenaline going while navigating through an enormous 3D blacklight mini golf course at Puttshack. No matter your ages or interests, solving problems hand-in-hand builds intimacy – and trying new things as a couple keeps your relationship exciting.
Take a Roadtrip Along the Great River Road
Name and Location: The Great River Road is a national scenic byway spanning 3,000 miles largely along the Mississippi River linking 10 states from northern Minnesota down through Louisiana along highways and levees including a route paralleling the Big Muddy between Memphis and Vicksburg, Mississippi along Highway 61.
History and Significance: This epic road trip route established in 1938 takes travelers through the heartland of America, past cotton fields, river landings, flood plain forests and historic river towns that shaped the country via the interconnected river system flowing through its center.
What to Expect: Gorgeous winding pastoral scenery from your passenger window soaking up vistas between vibrant heritage stops in riverport communities like Clarksdale, Greenville, Natchez and more filled with bluesy juke joints, antebellum mansions, museums, eateries and scenic natural diversions.
Visitor Information: The full route spans over 20 states but suggested manageable segments conveniently connect major hubs like Memphis to St. Louis or Nashville to Memphis revealing rich history in the heartland.
Put the top down if your car allows and take an easy road trip together along the bucolic Great River Road stretching from Memphis down through the Mississippi Delta. With the Mississippi River always in view, you’ll pass centuries-old river towns, Civil War historic sites, blues markers honoring music legends, and along the way you can stop wherever strikes your fancy. Wander riverside antique shops, stop for a vineyard tour or find holes-in-the-wall with down-home cooking off the beaten path. Exploring together creates shared memories, so ramble down two-lane highways past cotton fields as you please on this scenic byway.
Cozy Up for a Classic Movie at the Orpheum
Name and Location: Orpheum Theatre on 203 S Main St in downtown Memphis.
History and Significance: Constructed in 1928 at the height of the vaudeville circuit, today this carefully restored Ticketmaster Landmark venue transports guests back to Golden Hollywood glory days amid gilded French Renaissance architecture and decor showcasing concerts, Broadway tours and classic cinema screenings.
What to Expect: Nestle into plush red velvet seats in the balconied auditorium glowing under Tiffany glass ceilings and dazzling chandeliers to watch your sweetheart’s favorite romantic comedy, musical or cult classic film unfurl on the massive screen.
Visitor Information: Year-round film schedule posted online where movie tickets should be purchased in advance. Validate parking in attached garage off Beale for discounted rates.
Memphis’ iconic 1928 Orpheum Theatre is a spectacular place to take your sweetie for a romantic date night at the movies. This stunning example of French Renaissance architecture houses a state-of-the-art sound system along with elegant balconies and opulent decor. Catch a viewing of an old-fashioned classic film like Casablanca or Breakfast at Tiffany’s for a timeless evening reminiscing together over your favorite nostalgic scenes. With happy hour specials beforehand at the theatre’s lobby bar and cozy cinema seating for snuggling during the show, an Orpheum movie date promises a glamorous and memorable experience.
Take a Master Class at a Memphis Distillery
Name and Location: Artisan micro distillery tasting rooms around Memphis like Old Dominick Distillery at 305 S Front St offer behind-the-scenes education.
History and Significance: As Tennessee whiskey production gains global fame inspiring films and tours of Jack Daniels, small-batch spirits startups in Memphis also craft superior bourbons, vodkas and gin using quality Southern ingredients and customized copper stills made for sipping straight or mixing in signature cocktails.
What to Expect: Intimate gatherings chat with expert distillers over a flight of smooth SIP Award-winning spirits created on-site before receiving a hands-on tutorial making custom cocktail infusions as memorable souvenirs.
Visitor Information: Join email list for class announcements or inquire at tasting room. Events typically occur monthly for limited guests 21+ only with tickets covering tasting samples.
For couples who like to enjoy adult beverages together, a spirited date at one of Memphis’ craft distilleries offers the perfect chance to learn something new. At Old Dominick Distillery in downtown Memphis, their popular cocktail classes are a party for two where you’ll master mixing delicious drinks using their handcrafted spirits. Or enhance your inner connoisseur by reserving a specialized tasting covering gins, vodkas and whiskeys at Doc Spirits Distillery. Giggling over boozy samples as you expand your palates makes for lighthearted romance.
Tour Iconic Sun Studio
Name and Location: Historic Sun Studio at 706 Union Ave in downtown Memphis.
History and Significance: Site of the first-ever rock n’ roll recording, Sun Studio opened by rock pioneer Sam Phillips in 1950 attracted legends like Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, B.B King and Roy Orbison who got their start inside the cramped vinyl-lined gym-turned-recording studio labeled the “Birthplace of Rock n’ Roll”.
What to Expect: Stand in the very room where history was made on early recording equipment before engaging exhibits detail stories from past session players and engineers. Guides share backstage stories bringing the musical landmark to life.
Visitor Information: Open daily for self-guided and ticketed guided tours from 10am-6:15pm with extended hours on weekends. Book tour tickets online in advance or buy on-site subject to availability.
No music-loving couple visiting Memphis should miss Sun Studio, the tiny studio where rock-and-roll was born. This historic site is where an unassuming 19-year-old Elvis Presley was first recorded jamming with Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison and Jerry Lee Lewis, making Sun Studio ground zero for the rockabilly revolution. The studio feels frozen in the 1950s and still hosts recording sessions, giving tours an intimate fly-on-the-wall look at this musical mecca. Hear stories about legendary artists while standing in the exact spot they changed music forever. For couples, visiting Sun Studio together perfectly captures nostalgic musical magic.
Wander Through Children’s Fairyland at Shelby Farms Park
Name and Location: Woodland Discovery Playground is located within Shelby Farms Park at 6903 Great View Drive North, Memphis, TN 38134.
History and Significance: As one of the nation’s largest urban parks at over 4,500 acres, Shelby Farms contains wetlands, trails, boating, disc golf, bike rentals and imaginative kids’ zones like this whimsical playground area transporting little ones into a fantasy world.
What to Expect: Hand-carved mystical woodland creatures like dragons, sprites, rabbits and treehouses delight toddler imaginations while parents unwind together on benches circling the creative space away from city bustle surrounded by Shelby Forest’s natural splendor.
Visitor Information: Park open daily sunrise to sunset. This playground located in the northern Woodland Discovery area of the expansive park with free parking access from Farm Road.
The giant Shelby Farms Park offers plenty of recreational spaces for couples, but perhaps the most romantic is the whimsical playground area dubbed Children’s Fairyland. As the name implies, fantastical fairytale-themed elements like magic mushroom shelters and a glass carriage straight out of Cinderella welcome grown-up kids. Wander hand-in-hand over charming bridges past Mother Goose characters immortalized in sculptures. Swing playfully together on benches shaped like flying geese. Let your imaginations take flight in this storybook setting that brings out both your childlike wonder.
Hopefully this gives you some fun and creative date night ideas to help you connect deeply with your special someone in Memphis’ most romantic places. The city exudes history, culture, music and nature perfect for spending meaningful time with your sweetheart making memories that will last a lifetime.